Will Trevor Lawrence blow up the three season minimum rule for NFL draft eligibility?

Posted at 12:06 pm on Jan 8, 2019

He is ready right now. He would go #1. If he has to play two more seasons, he will be subject to injuries that could make him damaged goods. He could lose a fortune. The NBA has "one and dones." Draft eligible college football players are avoiding bowl games so as not to jeopardize their draft potential.
If Lawrence got an aggressive agent and lawyer, they might challenge the NFL rule. They could argue on the grounds of a person's right to make a living.
Could Lawrence play for pay right now in the Canadian Football League with the understanding that he would become eligible for the NFL draft in two years?
Clemson has a golden goose for two years. He will bring the school fame and fortune and he won't get a dime in return?
Would Clemson be allowed to buy him lucrative insurance policies to cover him for the next two years?
Would Lawrence sit out two years to protect his body?
Could he do shampoo commercials while he waited?
Inquiring minds want to know!

Replies to: Will Trevor Lawrence blow up the three season minimum rule for NFL draft eligibility?

Thread Level: 2

99.9% of players are not physically ready for the NFL after their freshman year of college.

Clarett lost on the grounds that the players union had agreed to the three year eligibility rule

Posted at 2:02 pm on Jan 8, 2019

The decision was a pro union holding by a three judge panel that included a "wise latina" (Sonia Sotomayor). Without the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL might have lost on an anti-trust argument. Ironically, three years is about the average NFL career... so the union was trying to make sure that its members got the maximum earnings they could reasonably expect. Otherwise, the NFL would hire as many low cost rookies as possible.

Already been tried - see Maurice Clarett's suit against the NFL

Posted at 12:26 pm on Jan 8, 2019

Because the draft eligibility rule is the result of collective bargaining, it is exempt from antitrust laws.

In other words, the NFL can continue to use the NCAA as a free source of labor and set any rules it wants. College players are powerless to change it. Maybe some high profile kid will choose to leave early and play for one of the alternative leagues that are forming.

You can't really dust for vomit.

Thread Level: 3

Re: Already been tried - see Maurice Clarett's suit against the NFL

Posted at 12:40 pm on Jan 8, 2019

If one of the alternative leagues could lure Trevor Lawrence to join them, what a coup that would be. Soon, others like his freshman WR teammate Ross, could join, too. The league would, of course, use a striped football, and summon up thoughts of the old AFL-NFL battles. Bidding wars for stars would warm the cockles of the hearts of avaricious agents. Roger Goodell would have a heart attack.
Stay tuned!

Thread Level: 2

It might get interesting.

Posted at 12:08 pm on Jan 8, 2019

If nothing else, I wonder if he might take the "sit out" strategy to another level and just not play a season before draft eligibility. I wouldn't mind it if he's gone when Clemson comes to ND in 2020.